Janaka Perera

{{Short description|Sri Lankan politician}} {{Use British English|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Major General | name = Janaka Perera, ජානක පෙරේරා | honorific_suffix = RWP, RSP, VSV, USP | image = Janaka Perera 1.JPG | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1946|2|1}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2008|10|6|1946|2|1}} | death_place = Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka | party = United National Party | other_party = | partner =  | relations = | children = | alma_mater = | occupation = Military Officer, politician | profession = Military | period = | allegiance = {{flag|Sri Lanka}} | service_years = 1966–2001 (35 years) | rank = 10px Major General | branch = {{army|Sri Lanka}} | commands = Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, Overall Operations Commander Northern Sector, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 53 Division | unit = Commando Regiment, Sri Lanka Engineers | battles = 1971 JVP Insurrection, Insurrection 1987-89, Sri Lankan Civil War | mawards = 23px Rana Wickrama Padakkama 23px Rana Sura Padakkama, 23px Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya 23px Uttama Seva Padakkama 23px Videsha Seva Padakkama }}

Major General '''Janaka Perera''', RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, VSP (1 February 1946 – 6 October 2008)<ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/06/news001.asp Maj Gen Janaka Perera Killed in LTTE suicide attack – Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013062435/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/06/news001.asp |date=13 October 2008 }} dailynews.lk</ref> was a Sri Lankan General and politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and is considered one of the most distinguished generals in Sri Lankan history. After retiring from the army he served as a Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Indonesia. He was the opposition leader of the North Central Provincial Council<ref>[http://www.lankadissent.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1435:will-resume-battl Will resume battle for 17th Amendment – Ranil]</ref> until he and his wife were killed on 6 October 2008 by a suicide bomber. The LTTE have been blamed for the bombing by Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

==Education== General Perera was educated at St. John's College, Panadura and after St. Joseph's College, Colombo.He was accepted to University of Ceylon to study geology at the Peradeniya campus before quitting to join the Sri Lanka Army in 1966 as an Officer Cadet.<ref name="island.lk">[http://www.island.lk/2008/07/21/news3.html Janaka rejects police bodyguards Firmly believes in military victory against LTTE, The Island]</ref> He received his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst<ref name="jk1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20020529125638/http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DE18Df04.html SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY, Chapter 40: Rohana Wijeweera's killing – still a mystery]</ref> in England. After completing his training he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st Field Engineer Regiment, Ceylon Engineers. Later, he transferred to the newly formed Commando Regiment.<ref name="priu.gov">{{Cite web |url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/CA200101/20010130Maj.Gen.Janaka.htm |title=Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera retires after 34 years of service |access-date=12 September 2008 |archive-date=12 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212104425/http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/CA200101/20010130Maj.Gen.Janaka.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Major General Pererea is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the Royal College of Defence Studies.<ref name="army">[http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=17046 Major General K.J.C Perera (Retd) RWP RSP VSV USP rcds psc is No More]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Military career== He first saw action during the 1971 JVP Insurrection as Lieutenant and was promoted to captain in 1973. He was promoted to Major in 1977, Lieutenant Colonel in 1986 and Colonel in 1988; serving as the Commanding Officer, 5 Field Engineer Regiment; Chief Instructor, Sri Lanka Military Academy and Military Liaison Officer, Ministry of Defence.<ref name="army"/><ref>[http://asiantribune.com/node/91832 Lalins Column: The Incomparable First Intake of Officer Cadets trained in SL]</ref>

===Second JVP insurrection=== As a Colonel, Janaka Perera took a significant role in suppressing the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection. He was the Provincial Commander of the North-Western Province<ref name="jk1"/> as well as being in charge of the special operations of the ''Operation Combine'' in Colombo<ref name="jk1"/> which led to the capture of the JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera.<ref name="jk">[http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080629/editorial-.htm Can Janaka Deliver?]</ref> He was promoted to brigadier in 1989.<ref name="army"/> He went on to command the 24 Brigade. He got parachute qualified in 1990.

===Weli Oya=== {{main|Battle of Weli Oya (1995)}} In 1995, Brigadier Perera was Brigade Commander of the Independent "Special Forces" Brigade when he was transferred to Weli Oya as the Brigade Commander, 6th Brigade in May 1995. He preparation and command of the brigade during the Battle of Weli Oya in July 1995 resulted in a major victory for the army killing over 300 LTTE carders while losing only 2 soldiers, at the time of the battle 6 Brigade was made up of mostly reservists from volunteer regiments. Soon after the victory, he was transferred to command the elite Reserve Strike Force (RSF) which consisted of special forces, commando and air mobile units in Jaffna.<ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=62738 War on terror revisited: Three significant battlefield victories]</ref>

===Operation Riviresa=== {{main|Operation Riviresa}} A few months later in late 1995, Brigadier Perera played a major role during Operation Riviresa which led to the liberation of the Jaffna Peninsula, during which he commanded the elite 53 Division which consisted of the Independent Brigade, Air Mobile Brigade, Armored Brigade and an Infantry Brigade.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/operations01.php?take=22 |title=EELAM WAR III, Sri Lanka Army |access-date=2 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915193035/http://www.army.lk/operations01.php?take=22 |archive-date=15 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Higher command=== In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of major general. He served as General Officer Commanding of the 53 Division, 51 Division, 23 Division.<ref>[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2008/10/07/news23.asp Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera’s Army career]</ref> Later he was promoted to the post of Deputy Chief of Staff and functioned as Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Command and Staff College.<ref name="army"/>

===Defense of Jaffna=== Following the Second Battle of Elephant Pass in April 2000 which forced the Sri Lankan Army units in Jaffna to fall back due to lack of fixed defence positions, Perera was appointed Overall Operations Commander (North) and was tasked with countering the LTTE offensive, along with Major General (later Field Marshal) Sarath Fonseka who was appointed Security Forces Commander, Jaffna.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000423/sitrep.html Censor batters battle report, Situation report, Sundaytimes]</ref> During this time there were fears in Colombo that the 40,000 troops in the Jaffna peninsula would be cut off, trapped, and overrun. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga negotiated with the Indian government for ships to evacuate troops from the peninsula due to the lack of transport ships in the Navy. However, the Indian government refused to provide ships. Launching several effective counter-offensives that halted the LTTE advance, removing the threat to the Jaffna peninsula and succeeded in established the defence line in the Jaffna peninsula, which remained in place till the last days of the war.<ref name="priu.gov"/>

===Chief of Staff=== Major General Janaka Perera was appointed as Chief of Staff of the army in 2000 but retired in 2001 when he was overlooked for promotion to Army Commander, causing him to retire in 2001.<ref>[http://www.nation.lk/2007/08/19/politics5.htm Maj. Janaka Perera's Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206214215/http://www.nation.lk/2007/08/19/politics5.htm |date=6 February 2008 }} nation.lk</ref> He had the unique distinction of being the colonel commandant of the Commando Regiment, Special Forces Regiment and the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers.

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{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="2"|Rana Wickrama Padakkama |colspan="2"|Rana Sura Padakkama |- ||Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya |Uttama Seva Padakkama |Purna Bhumi Padakkama |North and East Operations Medal |- |Vadamarachchi Operation Medal |Riviresa Campaign Services Medal |Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal |50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal |- |Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal |Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal |President's Inauguration Medal |Videsha Seva Padakkama |- |}

Major General Janaka Perera had been awarded the gallantry medals Rana Wickrama Padakkama and Rana Sura Padakkama, the distinguished service medal the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, long service medals Uttama Seva Padakkama, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, foreign service medal Videsha Seva Padakkama, combat service medals Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal the campaign medals Vadamarachchi Operation Medal and the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal and also the Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Medal 1998, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal and President's Inauguration Medal.<ref name="army"/>

==Diplomatic career== Following his retirement he was made Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Australia and later Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Indonesia, but was recalled before his term ended.

;Accusation of war crime After he was appointed Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Australia, the Tamil community there accused him of being responsible for hundreds of deaths and the torture of Tamils in the Jaffna peninsula when he was in command. About 300 Tamils protested outside the Australian parliament accusing General Perera of war crimes. The human rights group Amnesty International raised similar concerns.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7653945.stm|title = Suicide blast hits Sri Lanka town|date = 6 October 2008}}</ref> However, no formal charges were ever brought against General Perera and he served his full four years as Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Australia, after which he was Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia.

==Political career== Since his retirement from his diplomatic career, General Perera took up active politics as a member and an organizer of the United National Party (UNP).<ref name="jk"/><ref>[http://www.island.lk/2008/06/23/news4.html Janaka vows to take NCP, by Percy Kuruneru our Anuradhapura, The Island]</ref>

===North Central Provincial Council=== During the 2008 North Central Provincial Council election, which he claimed to be marred by violence, he was as the UNP candidate for the post of Chief Minister for the North Central Province, although he gained the most preferential votes his party failed to gain a majority in the council, therefore became the Leader of the Opposition of the North Central Provincial Council.

==Family== Janaka Perera married Vajira de Silva, who was one of the first six officers to join the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps in 1982. Vajira trained at the Women's Royal Army Corps College in 1980 and had reached the rank of major before her retirement from the army.<ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/07/news12.asp Vajira – One of the first six to join Army Women's Corps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023616/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/07/news12.asp |date=13 October 2008 }} dailynews.lk</ref> Her brother Lieutenant Upul de Silva, who had also joined the army was killed in action. Janaka and Vajira Perera had three children together: Janukshi, Shehara and Ashanka.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/09/main_Obituaries.asp |title=Obituaries |access-date=9 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013202539/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/09/main_Obituaries.asp |archive-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Assassination== Janaka Perera and his wife were killed by a suspected suicide bomb blast on 6 October 2008 in Anuradhapura. The bombing which occurred at the United National Party office near the Old Bus Stand in Anuradhapura, killed about 27 civilians and politicians while injuring 90 more. The dead included 4 UNP provincial councillors and former Sri Lankan Ambassador and UNP party manager in Anuradhapura Dr Rajah Johnpullé and his wife.<ref>[http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20081006_05 Over 25 civilians including Maj Gen Janaka Perera killed in LTTE suicide bomb attack- Anuradhapura] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006195531/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20081006_05 |date=6 October 2008 }} defence.lk</ref> The government blamed the attack on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7653945.stm Suicide blast hits Sri Lanka town] bbc.co.uk</ref> The UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked for an international investigation on the death of Janaka Perera and numerous others.<ref>[http://www.island.lk/2008/10/08/news2.html Govt's denial of security caused Janaka's death – Ranil by Wijitha Nakkawita and Lakshmi de Silva]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/cms/article10.php?id=1409 |title=Ranil calls for international probe on Monday's suicide attack |access-date=7 October 2008 |archive-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604152138/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/cms/article10.php?id=1409 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Request for security=== The government has been blamed by Wikremesinghe and others for not providing adequate security for General Perera, who had to ask the Supreme Court for protection during the provincial council election when the government candidate was given security and he was not.<ref name="island.lk"/> Two weeks prior to the assassination, Janaka Perera had complaint to the Superintendent of Police - Anuradhapura for security having received information on a threat to his life. He had cited that he had received a detail of seven police officers prior to the provincial elections on a Supreme Court order and had been withdrawn by the government. His lawyers had been preparing a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court the week he was assassinated.<ref name="ST1">[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081012/News/sundaytimesnews_02.html Police ignored Janaka’s plea for security]</ref>

===Funeral=== After laying in Anuradhapura for the public to pay their respects, the coffins of Major General Janaka Perera and his wife Vajira Perera were transported to Colombo to their residence in Kirullapone. On 11 October 2008, the coffins were taken by procession to the Colombo General Cemetery, where the coffin of Major General Janaka Perera was transfers to a gun carriage of the Sri Lanka Artillery and final rites carried out with full military honors.<ref name="ST1"/>

===Aftermath=== On 5 September 2014, the Anuradhapura High Court sentenced the first accused in the bombing, Sanmuganathan Sudhaharan who was linked to the LTTE suicide wing to a twenty year rigorous imprisonment having been found guilty on two counts of conspiring and abetment to suicide bombing. The accused had pleaded guilty on 22 August 2014.<ref>[https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=27977 UPDATED: Maj. General Janaka Perera murder: ex-LTTE carder convicted]</ref> The second accused, Hameer Umar was sentenced to life in prison by the Anuradhapura Special High Court. Umar had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was transferred to the Anuradhapura Special High Court in September 2015 on a directive by the Chief Justice.<ref>[http://www.adaderana.lk/news/55265/second-accused-in-maj-gen-janaka-perera-murder-sentenced-to-life Second accused in Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera murder sentenced to life]</ref>

==See also== *Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://sadaharita.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/janaka_perera/ Tribute to the life & death of a real warhero, Janaka Perera "Sadaharita"] *[http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items01/080601-1.html Major General Janaka Perera's Vital Importance to Sri Lanka] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011143810/http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items01/080601-1.html |date=11 October 2008 }} *[http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2006/12/10473_space.html Janaka Perera Recalled] lankanewspapers.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071116143647/http://www.spur.asn.au/SPUR_Media_Release_The_Jaffna_Debacle_12_May_2001.htm THE JAFFNA DEBACLE] spur.asn.au *[http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/13/inter1.htm "I know nothing about politics" – Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215235/http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/13/inter1.htm |date=3 March 2016 }} nation.lk *[http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2008/10/ge-janaka-perera-killed.html Perera killed] srilankaguardian.org *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081019100610/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/10/10/fea02.asp Janaka the Committed Diplomat] *[http://www.island.lk/2008/10/20/features3.html Measuring Janaka's worth] *[http://www.divaina.com/2008/10/12/feature04.html Major General Janaka Perera in Sinhala] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014041227/http://www.divaina.com/2008/10/12/feature04.html |date=14 October 2008 }} *[http://www.divaina.com/2008/10/20/mano05.html Methek Kathawa '''Divaina''']

{{s-start}}{{s-mil}} {{succession box | title=Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army | before= Major General Lionel Balagalle | after= Major General Shantha Kottegoda| years=2000–2001}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perera, Janaka}} Category:Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to Indonesia Category:High commissioners of Sri Lanka to Australia Category:Sri Lankan major generals Category:Sinhalese military personnel Category:United National Party politicians Category:Assassinated Sri Lankan politicians Category:Sri Lankan terrorism victims Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon (Peradeniya) Category:Terrorism deaths in Sri Lanka Category:Terrorist incidents in Sri Lanka in 2008 Category:1946 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Provincial councillors of Sri Lanka Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies Category:Sri Lanka Army Commando officers Category:Alumni of Saint Joseph's College, Colombo Category:Defence Services Staff College alumni Category:Asian politicians assassinated in the 2000s Category:Politicians assassinated in 2008 Category:Deaths by suicide bomber Category:Politicians assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam